Category Archives: Featured

LANSING — With infrastructure challenges the likely focus of tonight’s State of the State address, members of the state’s two school employee unions are hoping to hear a commitment from Gov. Rick Snyder that much-needed repairs won’t come at the expense of students’ education.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the U.S. Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for Betsy DeVos, President-Elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education. DeVos and her wealthy, right-wing family are no strangers to Michigan educators and students, who have suffered for years under policies the DeVoses have pushed as mega-donors to the Republican Party. That’s why…

In our seventh-grade science class, we recently learned about energy waves. Students were asked the questions: Is there a relationship between frequency, wavelength, and speed? If so, what is it? If not, why?

The most prominent education-related bills to pass the Legislature in this month’s lame duck session include a softening of zero-tolerance policies and a ban on the use of seclusion and restraint with students except in the case of emergencies.

UPDATE 12/9 – According to the Detroit News, this “techincal fix” to tax refund law which would cost more than $400 million for schools next year has been dropped as an issue for the lame duck legislative session. Stay tuned for more on this issue when the Legislature returns in Janauary!

LANSING — The selection of Betsy DeVos to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education is an affront to students and education professionals in Michigan, according to the leaders of Michigan’s school employee unions, the American Federation of Teachers Michigan and the Michigan Education Association.

A change in state law now requires that school employees who suspect abuse or neglect of a child must personally report their suspicions directly to state authorities. Employees designated as mandatory reporters no longer can have someone else make the call for them, and all reports must be made immediately to Child Protective Services. Teachers,…

Beginning in the first pay period of 2017, some school employees may have more money deducted from their paychecks for retirement savings unless they opt out during a small December window. Members who miss the December opt-out will have the withdrawal made from their first paycheck in January, but they can choose to opt out…